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Raising Arizona (1987) movie poster

Timeline

Raising Arizona (1987) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1987 · 94 min · English
Directed by
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Starring
Holly Hunter, Nicolas Cage

A police officer and a former convict, deeply in love, yearn to start a family but find themselves unable to conceive. Driven by this desire, they impulsively kidnap one of a set of quintuplets from a wealthy furniture salesman. Pursued by the boy’s resentful father and a group of intimidating bikers, the couple struggles to navigate the unpredictable realities of parenthood while desperately trying to evade capture. The situation spirals into increasingly absurd and chaotic circumstances.

Adventure Mystery Comedy Crime Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Raising Arizona
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Raising Arizona (1987)

Where can you watch Raising Arizona? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Raising Arizona Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Raising Arizona (1987) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. H.I. Meets Ed

    In the Arizona suburbs, Herbert 'H.I.' McDunnough gets processed by the charming officer Edwina, known as 'Ed'. Each time he returns to prison, he can't help but flirt with her during his mugshots, laying the groundwork for an unexpected romance.

    Where
    Arizona

  2. A Twist of Fate

    After Ed's fiancé abandons her, she and H.I. form a deeper bond. Their connection blossoms into love, culminating in H.I.'s proposal to Ed once he is released from prison.

    Where
    Arizona

  3. Married Life

    H.I. and Ed tie the knot and settle into a modest home. H.I. finds work as a welder while Ed continues her job in law enforcement, as they dream of starting a family together.

    Where
    Arizona

  4. Facing Infertility

    Their dreams of having children come crashing down when Ed discovers she is infertile. The couple's efforts to adopt fall apart due to H.I.'s past, leading Ed to resign from her job and leaving H.I. feeling powerless.

    Where
    Arizona

  5. The Arizona Quints

    H.I. and Ed learn about the 'Arizona Quints', the quintuplet sons of furniture magnate Nathan Arizona. In a moment of desperation, they concoct a plan to steal one of the babies to raise as their own.

    Where
    Arizona

  6. The Abduction

    Under the cover of night, they approach the Arizona home and H.I. climbs into the nursery. Successfully, he abducts Nathan Jr., filling them with exhilaration tinged with guilt for their audacious crime.

    Where
    Arizona

  7. Nightmare and Guilt

    That same night, H.I. has a nightmare about a menacing figure symbolizing chaos and consequences. This dream foreshadows the trouble that lies ahead once Nathan Jr.'s absence is discovered.

  8. Media Frenzy

    The news of Nathan Jr.'s abduction quickly escalates into a media frenzy. Nathan Arizona publicly offers a $10,000 reward, while police intensify their search for the missing child.

    Where
    Arizona

  9. The Snoats Brothers Arrive

    H.I.'s prison friends, the Snoats brothers, unexpectedly show up at their home after breaking out of jail. Their arrival complicates the already precarious situation, causing tension between Ed and H.I.

    Where
    Arizona

  10. Lunch Gone Wrong

    In an attempt to regain normalcy, H.I. hosts a lunch for his boss and his family. However, the visit spirals into chaos due to Glen's obnoxious behavior, leading to a physical fight and jeopardizing H.I.'s job.

    Where
    Arizona

  11. Desperate Measures

    Overwhelmed by stress, H.I. reverts to his old ways by attempting a robbery with Ed and Nathan Jr. in the car. The heist fails catastrophically and exacerbates tensions, leading Ed to kick out the Snoats brothers.

    Where
    Arizona

  12. Bank Heist Plan

    The Snoats brothers devise a plan to rob a bank, and H.I., feeling disheartened and desperate for a solution, agrees to join them. This leads the group into deeper trouble as their plans begin to unravel.

    Where
    Arizona

  13. The Bounty Hunter

    As chaos ensues, Leonard Smalls, a ruthless bounty hunter, emerges on the scene. His arrival heightens tension as he begins tracking down the troublemaking Snoats brothers, further complicating the situation.

  14. The Climactic Showdown

    Amidst the escalating tension and the search for Nathan Jr., H.I. and Ed make a frantic attempt to retrieve him. This leads to a heart-pounding confrontation filled with danger and unpredictability.

    Where
    Arizona

  15. Resolution with the Arizonas

    In the aftermath, H.I. and Ed return to the Arizonas to face the consequences of their actions. Nathan Sr. shows them understanding, encouraging them to hold onto their dreams as they navigate through the complexities of love and family.

    Where
    Arizona

Last updated: November 04, 2024 at 07:14

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Timeline questions answered

Raising Arizona Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Raising Arizona (1987): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why do H.I. and Ed decide to steal one of the Arizona quintuplets?

Desperate to start a family, H.I. and Ed learn about the Arizona quintuplets, a set of five babies born to wealthy furniture magnate Nathan Arizona. Since Ed is infertile and their adoption attempts fail due to H.I.'s criminal record, they conclude the Arizonas have more children than they can handle and decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets to raise as their own.

  • baby kidnapping
  • infertility
  • arizona quints
  • desperate parents
Q2

Why does Ed resign from her police job?

After discovering she is infertile and realizing their attempts to adopt will fail due to H.I.'s criminal past, Ed becomes overwhelmed with grief and resigns from her position as a police officer.

  • infertility
  • job resignation
  • ed
  • police officer
Q3

Why does H.I. go back to robbing convenience stores?

After losing his job following the disastrous lunch with his boss Glen and facing mounting stress from the stolen baby, the Snoats brothers' presence, and financial pressure, H.I. reverts to his old ways and attempts a convenience store robbery to make ends meet.

  • convenience store robbery
  • financial stress
  • unemployment
Q4

Who is Leonard Smalls and why does he pursue them?

Leonard Smalls is a menacing bounty hunter who enters the story tracking down the Snoats brothers after their failed bank heist. He represents the chaotic consequences that H.I. foresaw in his nightmare, a terrifying figure on a motorcycle symbolizing the trouble that would descend once Nathan Jr.'s abduction was discovered.

Foreshadowing: H.I.'s earlier nightmare features a terrifying biker figure that foreshadows Leonard Smalls' arrival.

  • bounty hunter
  • leonard smalls
  • chase
  • snoats brothers
Q5

Why does Ed order the Snoats brothers to leave?

After H.I.'s failed convenience store robbery, with Ed and baby Nathan Jr. in the car, Ed's anger and frustration reach a breaking point. She orders the Snoats brothers to leave the trailer, blaming their influence for pulling H.I. back into crime.

  • snoats brothers
  • ed
  • confrontation
  • eviction
Q6

What happens during the climactic showdown with Leonard Smalls?

As the situation spirals out of control with the Snoats brothers' failed bank heist and the bounty hunter closing in, H.I. and Ed make a desperate attempt to retrieve Nathan Jr. from the chaos. This leads to a heart-pounding confrontation with Leonard Smalls that puts everyone in grave danger.

  • final confrontation
  • leonard smalls
  • baby rescue
  • climax
Q7

Why does Nathan Arizona Sr. show understanding toward H.I. and Ed?

After the tumultuous events unfold and the couple returns Nathan Jr., Nathan Arizona Sr. recognizes their genuine desperation and love for the child. Rather than pursuing punishment, he expresses compassion and encourages H.I. and Ed to keep their dreams of starting a family alive, acknowledging that their intentions, while flawed, came from a place of longing.

  • nathan arizona
  • forgiveness
  • compassion
  • resolution
Q8

Why does the lunch with H.I.'s boss Glen go wrong?

H.I. invites his boss Glen and his family over hoping to restore normalcy, but Glen's obnoxious behavior and intrusive questions about their family life trigger H.I.'s fragile state. The tension escalates into a physical altercation, which ultimately jeopardizes H.I.'s job at the welding shop.

  • glen
  • boss
  • job loss
  • lunch
  • conflict
Q9

What does H.I.'s nightmare about the armed biker symbolize?

The night after kidnapping Nathan Jr., H.I. experiences a chilling nightmare featuring a terrifying figure on a motorcycle, heavily armed. This vision symbolizes his deep-seated fear of the chaos and consequences that will inevitably follow once the Arizonas discover their baby is missing, foreshadowing the arrival of bounty hunter Leonard Smalls.

  • nightmare
  • foreshadowing
  • biker
  • leonard smalls
  • fear
Q10

Why do the Snoats brothers decide to rob a bank?

After learning about H.I.'s failed robbery and seeing their friend downtrodden, the Snoats brothers concoct a plan to rob a bank. They believe this heist could solve all their financial problems and help H.I. provide for his family, though their plan ultimately leads to greater trouble and attracts the bounty hunter.

  • bank robbery
  • snoats brothers
  • heist
  • bounty hunter

Movie threads

More Movies Like Raising Arizona, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Raising Arizona tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quirky Crime Movies like Raising Arizona

Moral compromises and frantic chases fueled by a surprisingly tender motive. Discover movies like Raising Arizona, where eccentric characters commit absurd crimes for heartfelt reasons. If you enjoyed the blend of frantic chases, moral ambiguity, and a surprisingly tender core, this collection of whimsical crime capers and comedies is for you.

  • quirky
  • chaotic
  • desperate
  • hopeful
  • absurd
  • heartfelt
  • Tone: whimsical, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows characters who, driven by a deep-seated, often noble desire, make a morally questionable decision that sparks a chaotic chain of events. The journey is less about the crime's success and more about the personal growth and emotional realization the characters experience amidst the ensuing madness.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread are grouped by their unique blend of a fast-paced, comedic crime plot with a significant emotional undercurrent. They share a whimsical tone that makes even serious themes feel light, and a central conflict between desperate actions and good intentions.

Raising Arizona movie poster

Raising Arizona

1987
Travels with My Aunt movie poster

Travels with My Aunt

1972
Farfallon movie poster

Farfallon

1974
Who Framed Roger Rabbit movie poster

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

1988
A Life Less Ordinary movie poster

A Life Less Ordinary

1997
All About Steve movie poster

All About Steve

2009
I Love You Phillip Morris movie poster

I Love You Phillip Morris

2010
Dinner in America movie poster

Dinner in America

2022

Movies about Desperate Parenthood like Raising Arizona

Characters go to absurd and chaotic lengths to fulfill their dream of having a family. Find films similar to Raising Arizona that explore the chaotic and often absurd quest for family. If you liked the story of a couple's desperate but heartfelt attempt to become parents, you'll enjoy these movies about unconventional paths to parenthood and found family.

  • desperate
  • hopeful
  • anxious
  • absurd
  • heartwarming
  • chaotic
  • Tone: hopeful, whimsical
  • Pacing: fast, variable
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives typically begin with a fundamental yearning for a child or a stable family unit. Faced with obstacles, the protagonists embark on an unconventional, high-stakes plan that throws their lives into chaos. The plot tests their resolve and relationship, ultimately leading to a redefinition of what 'family' truly means.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their central theme of a desperate desire for family, which drives the entire plot. They blend medium emotional weight with comedic or chaotic execution, resulting in stories that are both funny and deeply human, exploring the moral gray areas of love and commitment.

Raising Arizona movie poster

Raising Arizona

1987
Baby Mama movie poster

Baby Mama

2008
She's Having a Baby movie poster

She's Having a Baby

1988
What to Expect When You're Expecting movie poster

What to Expect When You're Expecting

2012
Instant Family movie poster

Instant Family

2018
Unpregnant movie poster

Unpregnant

2020
American Dreamer movie poster

American Dreamer

2024
Gayby movie poster

Gayby

2012

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Every angle

Raising Arizona (1987) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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